They came to crash the party.
Four Interlake golfers finished in the top-18 at the KingCo 3A medalist tournament on Oct. 13. The players – Zach Buchanan, Patrick Sato, Andrew Kennedy and Taylor Haddock – finished in the required positions to move on to the 3A district tournament Monday at Harbour Pointe Golf Club; but as a 2A school, the Saints golfers must wait until the spring to play in their district tournament.
Buchanan, a senior, finished highest among the Saints, tying for for third place with two other golfers by shooting a 39-38 for a total of 77 at Snohomish Golf Course, a par 72. Overall, the Saints finished third with 406 strokes, two behind second-place Mount Si (who the Saints beat during the season) and 17 strokes behind winner Mercer Island.
“To be honest with you, I was a little disappointed with our finish,” said Interlake coach Scott Marcum. “I thought we really had a chance to win. But that’s a real tribute to the Interlake golf program.”
Sato, a freshman, had the next highest finish for Interlake, shooting a 78.
Mercer Island won after having four golfers finish in the top-10.
“Mercer Island played unbelievable,” Marcum said. “They just blitzed everybody.”
Because the event had no bearing on the Saints postseason chances, Marcum said the squad was loose and ready going into the event.
“There was no pressure on my kids going into that event,” he said.
Interlake went 8-2 during the regular season, competing against both KingCo 4A and 3A opponents. The team started 6-0 (defeating Skyline, Sammamish, Newport, Liberty and Issaquah) before losing to Eastlake and Redmond (by three strokes). Interlake rebounded to defeat Mount Si (the defending 3A state champions) and Garfield to close out the regular season.
“Our season was amazing,” Marcum said.
The Saints will now wait until the spring to prepare for their state qualifying tournament, a task made harder by the fact that some of the Interlake golfers, like Sato, play another sport in the spring as well.
“The layoff is goofy,” Marcum said. “Usually half the kids actually get better, and half the kids get worse. For the multi-sport athletes, it serves as a little bit of a disadvantage.”
Marcum said he thinks the Saints – who finished 16th as a team last year at state, led by Haddock’s 22nd place finish – should compete for the team title this spring.
“I absolutely think we’ll be in the hunt,” he said. “If I can get those top-4 kids to make it to the state tournament, we are definitely a threat to win it.
Area golfers who did qualify for the 3A district tournament and will play next week were Cole Hendrickson (Bellevue, 39-39-78), Matt Lee (Bellevue, 42-41, 83), Jack Perkins (Bellevue, 40-43-83), Connor Hood (Sammamish, 43-41-84) and Taylor Backous (Sammamish, 42-43-85).
C.J. Lee qualified for the 4A district tournament for Newport, shooting a 44-37-81.
Full results
KingCo 3A/2A medalist tournament
at Snohomish Golf Course
*Top 18, excluding Interlake (2A) players, advance to district tournament next Monday at Harbour Pointe Golf Club
Team scores – Mercer Island 387 strokes, Mount Si 404, Interlake 406, Bellevue 421, Juanita 429, Liberty 436, Sammamish 441
Individuals – Bradley Harrelson, Mount Si (37-36-73); Michael Bell, Juanita (36-37-73); Colten Kleis, Juanita (34-41-75); Charlie Kern, Mercer Island (38-37-75); Crawford Leeds, Mercer Island (40-37-77); Grant Otter, Mercer Island (37-40-77); Zach Buchanan, Interlake (39-38-77); Cole Hendrickson, Bellevue (39-39-78); George Jiranek, Mercer Island (39-39-78);
Jack Kelly, Mount Si (38-40-78); Patrick Sato, Interlake (38-40-78); Kirby Ingram, Mercer Island (40-40-80); Andrew Kennedy, Interlake (38-43-81); Taylor Hallock, Interlake (39-43-82); Bryce Karalus, Mount Si (42-41-83); Matt Lee, Bellevue (42-41-83); Jack Perkins, Bellevue (40-43-83); Kyle Code, Mercer Island (40-43-83); Matt Prewett, Mount Si (43-40-83); Connor Hood, Sammamish (44-40-84); Harrison Diemert, Liberty (43-41-84); Taylor Backous, Sammamish (42-43-85).
KingCo 4A medalist tournament
at Snohomish GC (par 72)
*Top 36 individuals advance to district tournament (results unavailable as of Reporter deadline)
Team scores – Woodinville 396 strokes, Skyline 404, Eastlake 406, Issaquah 409, Redmond 411, Newport 423, Garfield 439, Roosevelt 440, Inglemoor 445, Ballard 446, Bothell 446, Lake Washington 449
Individuals – Jarett Foote, Woodinville (33-38, 71); Li Wang, Eastlake (39-35, 74); Darius Lalier, Skyline (40-36, 76); Nick Montano, Woodinville (40-37, 77); Brendan Jung, Issaquah (36-41, 77); Oliver Rudnicki, Redmond (39-39, 78); Cody Moore, Garfield (43-36, 79); Drew Nichols, Roosevelt (40-39, 79); Kevin Moon, Issaquah (40-39, 79); Kyle Lindor, Woodinville (41-39, 80); John Pechan, Bothell (38-42, 80); Charlie Mroz, Redmond (45-36, 81); C.J. Lee, Newport (44-37, 81); Evan Alston, Eastlake (42-39, 81); A.J. Taylor, Skyline (41-40, 81); Ben Feldman, Garfield (41-40, 81); Nathan Stephenson, Skyline (38-43, 81); Jack Quinton, Skyline (41-41, 82); Chris Kobak, Eastlake (41-41, 82); Jimbo Curtin, Redmond (38-44, 82).
